“Love wasn’t something we planned; it was something that happened, naturally, effortlessly, beautifully.” – Ismaeel ALEEM.
Inioluwa and I met during our undergrad days at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), two fresh-faced newbies stepping out of our parents’ shadows, eager to embrace campus life. Looking back, I’d say fate played its cards that night. We were both stuck on campus, braving the cold while waiting for our medical registration the next morning.
At first, I hesitated, my heart thumping like a faulty generator. Talking to a girl at close range? Definitely out of my comfort zone. But I mustered all the courage I could and walked up to her. “Hey, can I crash here with you?” She looked up, smiled, and nodded. That was it. The ice was broken. We talked for a bit, just two strangers keeping each other company on a chilly night. Before we knew it, sleep took over, and we drifted off to our makeshift seats.
Morning came too soon. We exchanged numbers, said our goodbyes, and went our separate ways. But deep down, I knew this girl was different. I didn’t know if she felt the same way, but something told me our paths would cross again. And they did, over and over again. From casual hellos to long conversations, our bond grew stronger. Inioluwa and I became inseparable, sharing our daily struggles, wins, and frustrations. We laughed at silly jokes, gossiped about lecturers, and dreamt of a future together. Love wasn’t something we planned—it just happened.
We pictured everything: a life filled with love, laughter, and endless adventures. Kids running around, old age spent holding hands, exploring the world side by side. It felt so perfect. But life? Life had other ideas.
Turns out, love doesn’t always win. Our different religious backgrounds became the unmovable wall between us. Our families—bless them—couldn’t see past it. And despite how much we tried, there was no middle ground, no compromise that didn’t feel like a betrayal of who we were. The pressure was real, the tension unbearable.
So, with hearts heavier than uncommitted assignments, we made the hardest decision—we let go. Not because we stopped loving each other, but because love alone wasn’t enough to fight the battle we were up against.
Sometimes, I wonder how different things would have been if we had met at another time, in another life. But life doesn’t do rewinds. Inioluwa will always have a piece of my heart, and I hope she knows that every memory, every moment we share, is locked in there forever.
We didn’t get our fairy-tale ending, but if love were measured by moments, ours would be one for the books.
By Ismaeel ALEEM.
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12 Comments
Mmmmmmmmmmm this is Wonderful .mmmmmmmm we meet to path,path to meet. I do wonder why most loveable soul’s doesn’t end up settling down as wishes is it destiny,fate or environment or religious thingd
It was indeed worth writing about,
But most time people around us does not really see what love can do,
Religious discrimination has put an end to lots of relationships that would have being of great inspiration and motivation to the comming generations.
Let leave to love not matter our religion.
Shalom.
This is so touchable and amazing,My Guy
Wow. Bless up bro
This is a good read. Thankyou for sharing this part of you.
Religion has really been a barrier to a lot of love stories, only if our families can look past our religious backgrounds 😔
This is a very good read.
hmmmmm! i just hope love can always win
No wonder u have always been single 💔💔
Love is actually not enough
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂💔
🥹🥹
🥹🥹🥹
This is shows the complexities of love and relationships. It effectively captures the joy and heartbreak of love. The bittersweet ending acknowledges the loss while cherishing the memories, leaving a lasting impact. Exploration of love, loss, and the understanding that sometimes, the most loving thing you can do is let go.
Be Strong Bro